PS Vita processor identified as 45nm Samsung chip
updated 05:05 pm EDT, Fri July 29, 2011
Sony may use Samsung CPU for PS Vita processor
Sony may have turned outwards to get a processor for the PlayStation Vita. A claim made by Semiconductor Industry News, caught by Hachimaki, claims that the quad-core, ARM Cortex-A9 chip in the Vita will be made by Samsung. The exact model wasn't given, but it would be on a present-day 45 nanometer chip design rather than something smaller, like 28 nanometers.
Many had known for some time that Sony would use ARM rather than try for a more customize architecture like the Cell in the PS3. The PSP already used ARM and gave Sony little reason to change. The company's tendency to assume control of its hardware had still led to the possibility that Sony would design at least some of the chip itself.
Samsung regularly manufactures processors for others, even for direct competitors in some markets. At least until 2012, Samsung has been producing Apple's iOS device processors despite much of the design work being handled by Apple itself.
The company also has a symbiotic relationship with Sony as the two work together on LCD TV panels.
Neither Samsung nor Sony has commented on the story. The new mobile PlayStation is due to ship in North America before the end of 2011 and would be ideally timed for a quad-core but still 45nm processor. [via Andriasang]
